Fabric treating appliance utilizing steam

Abstract

A fabric treating appliance utilizing steam for treating the fabric and having a steam generator with a conduit for directing the steam.

1. A fabric treatment appliance comprising:
 a drum rotatably mounted within a tub with at least one of the tub and drum defining a fabric treatment chamber; 
 a non-pressurized steam delivery system comprising:
 a steam generator having a steam generation chamber with a steam generator inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply to receive water in the steam generation chamber and a steam generator outlet in unrestricted fluid communication with the fabric treatment chamber to supply non-pressurized steam relative to the fabric treatment chamber; and 
 a steam conduit in unrestricted fluid communication with the fabric treatment chamber and having a steam conduit inlet fluidly coupled to the steam generator outlet and a steam conduit outlet fluidly coupled to the fabric treatment chamber; 
 
 wherein the steam conduit outlet of the steam conduit defines a high point higher than any other point of the steam conduit and wherein non-pressurized steam rising from the steam generator is guided into the fabric treatment chamber through the steam conduit. 
 
     
     
       2. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the steam conduit comprises at least one ascending portion and at least one horizontal portion between the steam conduit inlet and the steam conduit outlet. 
     
     
       3. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the steam conduit is connected to the tub. 
     
     
       4. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the steam generator is located below a top of the at least one of the tub and drum. 
     
     
       5. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 4  wherein the steam generator is located adjacent to the at least one of the tub and drum. 
     
     
       6. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 4  wherein the steam generator is located below the at least one of the tub and drum. 
     
     
       7. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the steam generator is an in-line steam generator. 
     
     
       8. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the steam generator is a tank-type steam generator. 
     
     
       9. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the steam conduit comprises only ascending portions between the steam conduit inlet and the steam conduit outlet. 
     
     
       10. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 1  wherein the steam conduit comprises at least one ascending portion and at least one descending portion between the steam conduit inlet and the steam conduit outlet. 
     
     
       11. The fabric treatment appliance of  claim 10  wherein the steam conduit further comprises at least one horizontal portion between the steam conduit inlet and the steam conduit outlet.